Use of a window glass comprising a profiled bead for installing it in an opening

ABSTRACT

A window glass, particularly for installation by adhesive bonding in an opening of a vehicle bodywork, comprises a sheet of glass with a profiled bead that is fixed at least to the main surface of the sheet of glass facing toward the interior in the installed state and that rests against at least part of the opening. The use of such a window glass makes it possible, once the window glass has been installed in the bodywork opening, to obtain a visible space less than 5 mm between the opening and the edge face of the window glass.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 13/026,576, filedFeb. 14, 2011, now pending; which is a continuation of U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/373,114, filed Mar. 13, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,905,071,issued Mar. 15, 2011; which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.No. 10/410,271, filed Apr. 10, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,063, issuedMay 9, 2006; which is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/FR00/02818, filed Oct. 10, 2000, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of window glass, particularly formotor vehicles, and is aimed more specifically at window glassesequipped with decorative and/or functional elements attached to theglass. More particularly, the invention relates to a window glass,particularly for installation in an opening in vehicle bodywork,comprising a sheet of glass with a profiled bead that is fixed at leastto the main surface of the sheet of glass facing toward the interior inthe installed state. This bead may, by way of covering appendage,comprise a lip projecting beyond the edge of the window glass with asealing rib which can be applied against an adjacent wall part when thewindow glass is being installed.

2. Discussion of the Background

It is a generally known practice for vehicle window glass to be bondedinto the respective openings in the vehicle bodywork. To this end,window glasses are often provided with a profiled bead that adheres atleast to the main surface of the glass facing toward the interior, inthe installed state. A run of adhesive is applied to the profiled beadand/or near to the profiled bead on this same main surface of the glass.The window glass provided with the run of adhesive is then inserted intothe opening in the vehicle bodywork. The latter is surrounded by amounting flange, to which the run of adhesive is applied. Window glassesin the installed state preferably lie practically flush with theexternal surface of the bodywork. For such installation, the mountingflange is recessed with respect to the main surface of the bodywork bymeans of a peripheral angled step. The height of the angled stepcorresponds to the thickness of the window glass and of the adhesive. Incertain embodiments, the edge faces of the window glass are not coveredby the profiled bead. As the dimensions of the window glass and theperiphery of the opening cannot be matched to one another withouttolerance, due to of dimensional variations in manufacture, a spaceremains, in the form of a groove, between the angled step or the edge ofthe opening and the window glass.

According to document DE-A1-38 18 930, there is provided, for coveringthis space, a lip formed directly on the profiled bead bonded to thewindow, for example by extrusion. In another alternative embodiment fromthe same document, an additional profiled strip made of a flexibleelastomeric plastic is bonded along the peripheral surface of the windowon the main surface that faces toward the interior. This profiled striphas a tubular portion, which fills said space when the window glass isin the mounted state.

A shape of profile is also known (from DE-A1-43 01 026), which on threesides surrounds the external edge and the edge face of the window in oneembodiment, that is to say also on the external main surface, and whichfurther comprises a lip projecting from the window glass and serving tocover the lateral slot.

Thermoplastics, preferably thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) orthermoplastic olefins (TPO) have mainly been used hitherto as materialsfor such profiles. With these materials, the lip can be manufactured sothat it is already thin enough at the extrusion stage, so that it can beflexed elastically against the edge of the opening when the window glassis installed in the bodywork without generating excessively highreactive forces during the mounting. In addition to its sealingfunction, the lip centers the window glass in the opening duringinsertion and keeps the window glass centered.

Dirt can still build up in the space thus covered by the folded-over lipdisclosed in the prior art, and can be removed from the bottom of thegroove only with difficulty. The space that remains in general actuallyis greater than 7 millimeters and thus allows a great deal of dirt toaccumulate.

The present invention relates to a new type of mounting for a windowglass comprising a profiled bead that avoids the aforementioneddrawbacks and does not require a finishing strip to cover part of thewindow glass.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a window glass that is designed in particularto be installed by adhesive bonding in an opening of a motor vehiclebodywork, comprising a sheet of glass with a profiled bead that is fixedat least to the main surface of the sheet of glass facing toward theinterior in the installed state and that rests against at least half ofthe opening. After installation, the visible space between the openingand the edge face of the window glass is less than 5 millimeters andpreferably less than 3 millimeters.

The “edge face of the window glass” is to be understood as meaningeither the edge face of the window itself or, if the profiled beadcovers it, the corresponding portion of the bead. The profiled beadaccording to the invention may be a continuous or discontinuous elementand may be a single or multiple element, that is to say may consist ofat least two practically parallel parts deposited at the periphery ofthe sheet of glass.

The invention thus makes it possible to obtain closure flush with themain surface of the window and with the adjacent wall or bodyworksurface. In addition to the technical advantages afforded, this thenvisually yields a practically closed surface. The technical advantagesare essentially the fact that the visible space between the bodyworkopening and the window glass is reduced and that the risk of said regionbecoming soiled is avoided.

The invention results from a choice by the inventors not to follow thetypical design precautions; instead, the inventors chose to reduce thespace between the window glass and the opening by demonstrating,contrary to that which might be expected by a person skilled in the art,that the technique according to the invention was acceptable and did notrun the risk of damaging the window glass.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the profile isdesigned to limit the expansion of a bead of adhesive, and in particularthe lateral expansion thereof. The shape of the profiled bead thusadvantageously is designed to prevent the adhesive used to fix thewindow glass into the bodywork opening from excessively spreading anddisrupting the field of view of the window glass. This shape alsoadvantageously makes it possible to define the spacing between thewindow glass and the bottom of the bodywork opening and therefore allowpredetermined positioning in at least one direction. The shape of thebead thus defined also makes it possible to predetermine the amount ofadhesive needed to fix the window glass and thus permit the window glassto be firmly secured while making it easier for operations to beautomated.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a bead of adhesive atleast partially covers the profiled bead. In particular, depending onthe nature of the profiled bead and on the nature of the bead ofadhesive, the securing of the window glass is reinforced by the bindingof said two beads. The bead of adhesive may be wholly deposited on theprofiled bead and their binding thus may be directly associated with thesecuring of the window glass. Advantageously, in order to bind the twobeads, the forces of bonding and the forces of mechanical attachment maybe combined. To this end, the profiled bead preferably is provided withanchoring projections. These projections accommodate the bead ofadhesive which, after curing, is mechanically held. Advantageously, theinvention also relates to an alternate embodiment in which no adhesionoccurs between the two beads; such an embodiment may facilitate removalof the window glass, if necessary. Indeed, if the mechanical bindingbetween the two beads is of the nesting type, the window glass may bereadily removed.

In other cases, where the bead of adhesive at least partially covers theprofiled bead and, in particular, when the sheet of glass comprises atleast two sides which have curvatures with small radii of curvature, theprofiled bead is produced with a slope such that its surface is inclineddownward from its edge oriented toward the center of the window glasstoward its other edge positioned at the edge of the sheet of glass. Suchan embodiment applies more particularly to windshields or back lights,the lateral approach angles of which are small. In this embodiment, thebead of adhesive subsequently may be deposited by robot with ease; theslope of the profiled bead with respect to the plane of the window glassin this region allows the plane of depositing of the bead of adhesive tobe straightened up in the direction of the horizontal when the windowglass is resting on its center of the convex side.

According to another alternate embodiment of the invention, the bead ofadhesive does not in any way cover the profiled bead. The only contactbetween the two beads is possibly related to the fact that the profiledbead may be designed to limit the lateral expansion of the bead ofadhesive.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the profiled beadhas, over at least part of its length, a lip that projects beyond theedge of the window glass. Such a lip advantageously is made to bedeformable or flexible. These features give the lip mechanicalproperties that allow said lip to perform various functions. First, whenthe lip is over all or part of at least two sides of the window glass,it will act as a centering tool for positioning the window glasscorrectly in the bodywork opening. Also, for example, when a lip isprovided on the upper part of the window glass along all or part of thelength of the profile and when the bottom of the window glass rests onstops, said lip may supply a reactive force against the bodywork openingfacing it, thus providing a defined space between the bodywork openingand the window glass. Furthermore, the lip avoids any risk of contactbetween the sheet of glass and the bodywork and therefore any risk ofdamaging the sheet of glass.

The lip thus produced also may have a sealing function between theopening and the window glass; the lip will bend in one direction or theother, as chosen, and will press against the opening. The pressure thusexerted is enough to provide a good seal. For this function, the lipadvantageously is provided along at least three sides of the windowglass; it is not actually essential for the lip to be present on thebottom part of the window glass when the latter is installed.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision ismade for a solid wire to be incorporated into the bead of adhesive orinto the profiled bead. The purpose of such a wire is to make it easierto remove the window glass, if necessary, and in particular, to allowmaterials to be recycled.

Such a bead is inserted for example into or under the bead of adhesivewhen the latter is produced, taking care to let at least one end of thewire protrude. It thus may be possible when the window glass is in placeto grasp hold of this end, possibly using a tool, and then, by pullingon the wire possibly also using a tool, to break the bead of adhesive.

Such a device making it possible to break the bead of adhesive or theprofiled bead is practically essential in the context of the inventionif the window glass is to be removed. The space visible between thewindow glass and the bodywork opening, which space is smaller than 5millimeters, does not permit access by a cutting tool and, in any case,would not allow such a tool to be operated. Indeed, only the casementioned previously whereby the binding between the window glass andthe bodywork is of purely mechanical nature when the profiled bead hasanchoring projections permits the window glass to be removed withoutproviding a device such as a cutting wire. However, the presentinvention also contemplates the combination of such a wire with thismounting exhibiting only mechanical retaining means; in such a case, thewire is no longer truly a cutting wire but provides assistance withdisengaging the bead of adhesive and the profiled bead.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, at leasttwo wires are incorporated into the bead of adhesive or the profiledbead. The wires are preferably positioned some distance from one anotherso that each wire need only slit through part of the bead of adhesive.The forces needed for this operation are therefore reduced.

Means in particular for fitting such wires are, for example, describedin patent applications EP-A-0 121 480 and EP-A-0 298 788.

Still according to this same principle of incorporating an element intothe bead of adhesive or into the profiled bead, or alternatively atleast incorporating an element between the profiled bead and the bead ofadhesive, the invention advantageously relates to fitting a sheath intowhich another element can then be inserted. This may then be a cuttingwire or alternatively another type of element having a differentfunction.

In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, a profiled bead is madeof a two-part material. For example, the profiled bead may be formed ofa polyurethane. The choice of such a material has the advantage ofproviding excellent compatibility with the intended adhesive, it easilybeing possible for this adhesive to be chosen from a similar kind.

In another embodiment of the invention, the profiled bead is producedfrom a thermoplastic. Such material in particular has the advantage ofbeing easy to recycle, which is often a requirement. As regards thecompatibility of a thermoplastic with the adhesive, such compatibilityis not always easy to obtain. When necessary, particularly when the beadof adhesive at least partially covers a profiled bead made of athermoplastic, the surface of the latter advantageously may be coatedbeforehand with an adhesion primer.

In both instances, the means of producing the profiled bead are varied.

According one embodiment, the invention advantageously provides aprofiled bead directly obtained by extrusion onto the surface of thesheet of glass. Advantageously in the case of a profile made of athermoplastic, the extrusion device and, in particular, the extrusionhead and piping may be heated.

Alternatively, the profiled bead and the bead of adhesive may beco-extruded directly onto the sheet of glass. The bead of adhesive mayremain plastically deformable and adhesive until the window glass isfitted into the bodywork opening.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the profiled bead ismanufactured beforehand, for example by extrusion, and later fixed tothe sheet of glass, for example by adhesive bonding. Such a profile, forexample, is made by extrusion in a long length and then cut to therequired length for a given window glass and fixed thereto. To fix theprofiled bead, it is possible to adhesively bond it, for example byproviding a perforated profile with the adhesive being able to passthrough the holes, come into contact with the sheet of glass, and thussecure the profile firmly.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the profile isobtained using an encapsulation technique.

According to any of these techniques of obtaining the profiled bead,said profiled bead is produced on the internal face of the window glass,when the latter is fixed into the bodywork opening. However, theprofiled bead may still cover part of the edge face of the glass windowand/or cover part of the external face of the window glass.

The profiled bead and/or the bead of adhesive may be in direct contactwith the glass or in contact with an opaque layer, such as an enameledcoating, itself deposited onto the glass.

As regards the window glass, this consists of at least one sheet ofglass and may therefore consist of a laminated window glass.

The invention also provides a window glass consisting in particular of asheet of glass comprising a profiled bead and in particular intended tobe fixed by adhesive bonding into a bodywork opening and which, inparticular, can allow use as described previously and for example befixed in such a way that the space visible after mounting between thewindow glass and the bodywork opening is less than 5 millimeters.

Other advantageous details and features of the invention will be becomeapparent hereinafter from the exemplary embodiments of the inventionwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features of the present invention are disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters denotesimilar elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 a shows a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 b and FIG. 2 c show a partial cross-sectional perspective view ofan embodiment of the invention, with the added sheath and wire features;and

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of theinvention using another window glass.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts a window glass consisting of a sheet of glass 1 providedwith a profiled bead 2 adhering near its edge to one of its mainsurfaces, which will be the interior surface once the window glass hasbeen installed in a bodywork opening.

The profiled bead 2 can be deposited directly onto the surface of thesheet of glass 1 or, as illustrated here, onto a coating 3, such as anenameled layer deposited by screen printing. The profiled bead 2 isdeposited preferably by extrusion or by some other method such asovermolding or encapsulation, adhesive bonding of a prefabricated bead,etc. It is made of a thermoplastic, preferably an elastomer or a blendof thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) or thermoplastic olefin(s) (TPO(s)).It may also be a two-part material such as a polyurethane.

The sheet of glass 1 may consist of glass or a transparent plastic andmay be produced monolithically or, unlike the illustration, with alaminated structure combining at least two sheets of glass and/ortransparent plastic.

Profiled bead 2 essentially comprises a base profile resting on a mainsurface of the sheet of glass. This profile projects practically atright angles from the surface of the sheet of glass 1 and, at its freeend, forms a bearing rib 4. The latter, in the installed position, isdisposed against a mounting flange of a bodywork opening and will, uponmounting, define the position of the window glass in the bodyworkopening in terms of the depth to which it is set in said opening.

In the embodiment depicted, profiled bead 2 adheres only to the mainsurface of the sheet of glass 1 intended to face toward the interior. Asan alternative, profiled bead 2 may cover two or three faces of thesheet of glass, namely a main surface and at least part of the edge faceof said sheet of glass or, respectively, the two main surfaces and theedge face of the sheet of glass, straddling the edge of the latter.

FIG. 2 a, FIG. 2 b, and FIG. 2 c each illustrate another type of windowglass consisting, as before, of a sheet of glass 5 but, as alreadystated, could be a sheet of plastic or a laminated window glass. Aprofiled bead 6 produced according to one of the previously mentionedmethods and materials is fixed to the sheet of glass 5 or, moreprecisely, to an opaque layer 7, itself deposited on at the periphery ofthe sheet of glass 5.

FIG. 2 a, FIG. 2 b, and FIG. 2 c also each depict a bead of adhesive 8deposited on profile 6. This bead of adhesive 8, in some embodiments,may be deposited directly on the sheet of glass 5 or the opaque layer 7,or alternatively may partially cover profiled bead 6. The bead ofadhesive 8 is deposited between two bearing ribs 9 which will limit theexpansion of the adhesive on each side, and define the distanceseparating the bottom of the bodywork opening from the window glass.

The profiled bead 6 additionally comprises a lip 10 projecting beyondthe edge of the window glass.

The lip 10, formed of one piece, projects from base profile 6 at acertain angle with respect to the main extension of the latter, possiblypractically parallel to the main surface of the sheet of glass, more orless mid-way between the sheet of glass 5 and the bearing ribs 9, andextends beyond the periphery of the sheet of glass 5.

In this configuration, lip 10 may have different functions. Lip 10advantageously forms an elastically deformable part of profiled bead 6.The lip 10 can thus be deformed upon installation in the bodyworkopening and act as a centering element. Of course, lip 10 also has afunction of protecting the sheet of glass 5 because it prevents anyaggressive contact between said sheet of glass and the metal parts ofthe bodywork opening. Furthermore, lip 10 also may have a sealingfunction because it is applied under great pressure against the bodyworkopening; its deformation, at the very least, may make it possible toform channels for discharging rain or washing water. The functions ofthis lip will be further discussed in connection with the description ofFIG. 3.

Referring again to FIG. 2 a, a cutting wire 11 a is shown to beincorporated into profile 6. Such a wire could even be fitted in thebead of adhesive 8, or between the two beads. At least one end of wire11 a is left free so that, after mounting, it can be grasped by anoperator, possibly using a tool. A tensile force may permit either thebead of adhesive 8 or the profiled bead 6, as in the case of FIG. 2 a,to be cut. In FIG. 2 b, component 11 b represents two wires incorporatedinto a sheath, which is in turn, incorporated into the profile bead 6.In FIG. 2 c, component 11 c represents one wire incorporated into asheath, which in turn, is incorporated into the bead of adhesive 8.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an embodiment according to theinvention for mounting of a window glass 12 comprising a profiled bead13 in a bodywork opening 14, using a bead of adhesive 15. Also shown inaddition to a window glass 12 and a profiled bead 13 is the edge of anopening 14 in bodywork which is not further illustrated. Window glass 12is connected by adhesion to the bodywork upright 14 by means of a beadof adhesive 15 applied to the profiled bead 13. Lips 16 also are shownextending profiled bead 13 so as to project beyond the edge of thewindow glass 12 in their deformed state. FIG. 3 also clearly shows thevarious functions of said lip, particularly the centering, sealing andwater run-off functions.

In the mounted state, the external main surface of window glass 12 ispractically flush with the external surface of the bodywork.Furthermore, according to the invention, the space 17 visible betweenthe bodywork opening and the window glass has a size less than 5millimeters.

By comparison with the earlier configurations for the mounting of suchwindow glasses the present invention provides a space between the windowglass and the bodywork opening making it possible to avoid the build-upof dirt. Furthermore, it has been found that a reduction in said spacealso makes it possible to reduce aerodynamic noise. Another advantage ofthe present invention is that it affords a very particular visual andattractive appearance, because, to an observer standing a relativelyshort distance away from a vehicle with this set-up, the window glassappears to be an uninterrupted continuation of the bodywork.

The detailed description which has just been given relates moreparticularly to a window glass equipped by extrusion with a profiledbead which adheres to a main surface.

The same teachings apply to profiles obtained by other techniques(encapsulation or adhesive bonding) and/or covering more than one faceof the window.

1. A method of centering a window glass during installation into anopening framed by bodywork of a vehicle, comprising pressing the windowglass into the opening to deform an elastically deformable lip of atleast one profiled bead provided on a surface of the window glass facingthe opening; wherein: the window glass comprises a sheet of glass havingtwo main surfaces, each surface having a top edge, two side edges and abottom edge; the profiled bead is fixed to at least one edge of at leastone main surface of the sheet of glass; the elastically deformable lipis provided over at least a portion of the length of the profiled beadand projects beyond the at least one edge of the glass sheet;deformation of the elastically deformable lip applies a reactive forceagainst the bodywork causing the window glass to be centered in theopening; and the installed window glass has the appearance of anuninterrupted continuation of the bodywork.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein, when the window glass is installed in the opening, the lipdeforms to provide a visible space of 7 mm or less between the at leastone edge of the glass sheet and the bodywork.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein, when the window glass is installed in the opening, the lipdeforms to provide a visible space of 5 mm or less between the at leastone edge of the glass sheet and the bodywork.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the lip is provided at and extends beyond the top edge of thesheet of glass.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the lip is provided atand extends beyond the side edges of the sheet of glass.
 6. The methodof claim 1, wherein the lip is provided at and extends beyond the sideedges of the sheet of glass.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the lipis provided at and extends beyond the top edge of the sheet of glass. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein the lip is provided at and extends beyondonly the top edge and the side edges of the sheet of glass.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the lip is provided at and extends beyondonly the top edge of the sheet of glass.